Perhaps I am a bit late for the discussion on Italian kilowwats, but I just
couldn't resist it...
Few years ago I travelled to Italy on busisness and paid a visit to a ham whom
I knew for ages from a band. I was kind od surprised to find him in a workshop
where, among other ham stuff, there was something called HF PA, size of a
decent refridgerator, very carefully manufactured and good looking. I
understood it was predicted to deliver 20 kW out (you read it right) and Henry
2K was used as a driver. Bird 43 with 25 kW (right again) probe was used as a
wattmeter. Dummy load was water-cooled. You actually had to tap the water from
the pipelines, hi... If I remember well, the tube was YU134, size larger than
my head...
There was another small amplifier with 3CX6000, some 8 kW out...
Your mouth are watering? Come on, admit it... never thought of using one of
these babies in a contest, ha?
Yes, I have seen these two amplifiers by my own eyes and purpose for writing
this is not to point out Italian hams as the only superpower users. You can
find them in almost every country in the world. Many of those high scores are
results of extreme powers combined with good antennas and operator skills. In
my country I know for at least two amplifiers with 3CX3000 (two, ha ha ha...).
Some S5 guys proudly talked about their big amps. There are also many others to
whome I hav not spoken , but who could say the same.
Thing is, it is hard to compete in any WW contest due to differences in
regulation among countries. In USA it is 1500 W out, in UK 400W, in Italy 300W
etc. If classification would be on country basis, perhaps people would stick to
the rules ( I do not believe this...). Then, what about dxing... Plus, it is
much easier to build a strong linear than plant a high tower and long boom
yagis...
It is very difficult to trace the use of excessive power, strong signal is not
the only relevant pointer. That makes it much easier to use.
Henry 5K? Henry 8K???? Whom were they dedicated to? Power savers? Tube lovers?
Yeah, forgot to tell you that heating transformer for YU134 was some heavy
thing and wires size of my thumb (180A, right?).
Italy is a beautiful country of nice people, nature, art and of course
kilowats. What I mean is - do not press it too hard on Italy, you can find
extra power next door. Trick is how many of No 1 contesters would let you in
their bedrooms? Sorry, shacks... I bet there you could find lot of active
tuners, coaxial cables with positive losses and dipoles with 10dBi gain...
Be better, power is not all.
Gogo 9A6C
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